1
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Prieto‐Ramírez AM. Effects of landscape structure and patch characteristics on the density of central populations of the eastern green lizard Lacerta viridis. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10419. [PMID: 37600491 PMCID: PMC10433115 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
A better understanding of the impact of habitat loss on population density can be achieved by evaluating effects of both parameters within remnant habitat patches and parameters of the landscape surrounding those patches. The integration of predictors at the patch and landscape level is scarce in animal ecological studies, especially for reptiles. In this study, a patch-landscape approach was applied to evaluate the combined effects of within-patch habitat quality, patch geometry and landscape configuration and composition on the density of remnant populations of the eastern green lizard, Lacerta viridis, in a highly modified landscape in Bulgaria. Landscape composition variables (proportion of different land covers) were measured at different spatial scales surrounding patches. Single-scale models were built to evaluate combined effects of all predictors on density, when including all landscape composition variables at a specific spatial scale. Multi-scale models were applied to analyze combined effects when including landscape composition variables at the scale of their strongest effect (scale of effect, SoE). Results showed that the SoE of proportion of cropland and urban areas was small (50 m), while for proportion of habitat was large (1.5 km). The overall effect of habitat loss was better explained by the multi-scale model. Population density increased with patch area and decreased with patch shape irregularity and with the proportion of three land cover types surrounding patches-cropland, urban areas, and habitat. Combining patch and landscape parameters is important to identify ecological processes that occur simultaneously at different spatial levels and landscape scales, which would imply the application of multi-scale approaches for the protection of wild animal populations. Results are contrasted with what is known about occupancy patterns of the species in the same region and approaches to integrate both occupancy and density, in the field design of animal ecological studies are suggested.
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2
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Is Fluctuating Asymmetry a Sufficient Indicator of Stress Level in Two Lizard Species (Zootoca vivipara and Lacerta agilis) from Alpine Habitats? Symmetry (Basel) 2023. [DOI: 10.3390/sym15030721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Alpine habitats are exposed to increasing anthropogenic pressure and climate change. The negative impacts can lead to chronic stress that can affect the survival and reproductive success of individuals and even lead to population extinction. In this study, we analyse different morphological and ecological traits and indices of abiotic and biotic stressors (such as head size and shape, fluctuating asymmetry, body condition index, tail autotomy, and population abundance) in alpine and subalpine populations of two lacertid species (Zootoca vivipara and Lacerta agilis) from Serbia and North Macedonia. These lizards live under different conditions: allotopy/syntopy, different anthropogenic pressure, and different levels of habitat protection. We found differences between syntopic and allotopic populations in pileus size, body condition index (in both species), pileus shape, fluctuating asymmetry (in L. agilis), and abundance (in Z. vivipara). Differences between populations under anthropogenic pressure and populations without it were observed in pileus shape, body condition index (in both species), pileus size, fluctuating asymmetry, tail autotomy and abundance (in L. agilis). On the basis of our results, it is necessary to include other stress indicators in addition to fluctuating asymmetry to quickly observe and quantify the negative effects of threat factors and apply protective measures.
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3
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Arce AN, Cantwell-Jones A, Tansley M, Barnes I, Brace S, Mullin VE, Notton D, Ollerton J, Eatough E, Rhodes MW, Bian X, Hogan J, Hunter T, Jackson S, Whiffin A, Blagoderov V, Broad G, Judd S, Kokkini P, Livermore L, Dixit MK, Pearse WD, Gill RJ. Signatures of increasing environmental stress in bumblebee wings over the past century: Insights from museum specimens. J Anim Ecol 2023; 92:297-309. [PMID: 35978494 PMCID: PMC10086799 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Determining when animal populations have experienced stress in the past is fundamental to understanding how risk factors drive contemporary and future species' responses to environmental change. For insects, quantifying stress and associating it with environmental factors has been challenging due to a paucity of time-series data and because detectable population-level responses can show varying lag effects. One solution is to leverage historic entomological specimens to detect morphological proxies of stress experienced at the time stressors emerged, allowing us to more accurately determine population responses. Here we studied specimens of four bumblebee species, an invaluable group of insect pollinators, from five museums collected across Britain over the 20th century. We calculated the degree of fluctuating asymmetry (FA; random deviations from bilateral symmetry) between the right and left forewings as a potential proxy of developmental stress. We: (a) investigated whether baseline FA levels vary between species, and how this compares between the first and second half of the century; (b) determined the extent of FA change over the century in the four bumblebee species, and whether this followed a linear or nonlinear trend; (c) tested which annual climatic conditions correlated with increased FA in bumblebees. Species differed in their baseline FA, with FA being higher in the two species that have recently expanded their ranges in Britain. Overall, FA significantly increased over the century but followed a nonlinear trend, with the increase starting c. 1925. We found relatively warm and wet years were associated with higher FA. Collectively our findings show that FA in bumblebees increased over the 20th century and under weather conditions that will likely increase in frequency with climate change. By plotting FA trends and quantifying the contribution of annual climate conditions on past populations, we provide an important step towards improving our understanding of how environmental factors could impact future populations of wild beneficial insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andres N Arce
- Georgina Mace Centre for The Living Planet, Department of Life Sciences, Silwood Park, Imperial College London, Ascot, UK.,School of Engineering, Arts, Science & Technology, University of Suffolk, Ipswich, UK
| | - Aoife Cantwell-Jones
- Georgina Mace Centre for The Living Planet, Department of Life Sciences, Silwood Park, Imperial College London, Ascot, UK
| | - Michael Tansley
- Georgina Mace Centre for The Living Planet, Department of Life Sciences, Silwood Park, Imperial College London, Ascot, UK.,Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Ian Barnes
- Department of Earth Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, UK
| | - Selina Brace
- Department of Earth Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, UK
| | - Victoria E Mullin
- Department of Earth Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, UK.,Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - David Notton
- Department of Earth Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, UK.,National Museum Scotland, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jeff Ollerton
- Faculty of Arts, Science and Technology, University of Northampton, Northampton, UK
| | - Emma Eatough
- Georgina Mace Centre for The Living Planet, Department of Life Sciences, Silwood Park, Imperial College London, Ascot, UK
| | - Marcus W Rhodes
- Georgina Mace Centre for The Living Planet, Department of Life Sciences, Silwood Park, Imperial College London, Ascot, UK
| | - Xueni Bian
- Georgina Mace Centre for The Living Planet, Department of Life Sciences, Silwood Park, Imperial College London, Ascot, UK.,Department of Earth Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, UK
| | - James Hogan
- Oxford University Museum of Natural History, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Simon Jackson
- Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery Trust, Cumbria, UK.,Ipswich Museum (Colchester and Ipswich Museums), Ipswich, UK
| | | | | | - Gavin Broad
- Department of Earth Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, UK
| | | | - Phaedra Kokkini
- Department of Earth Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, UK
| | | | - Mahika K Dixit
- Georgina Mace Centre for The Living Planet, Department of Life Sciences, Silwood Park, Imperial College London, Ascot, UK
| | - William D Pearse
- Georgina Mace Centre for The Living Planet, Department of Life Sciences, Silwood Park, Imperial College London, Ascot, UK
| | - Richard J Gill
- Georgina Mace Centre for The Living Planet, Department of Life Sciences, Silwood Park, Imperial College London, Ascot, UK
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4
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Babic NL, Johnstone CP, Reljić S, Sergiel A, Huber Đ, Reina RD. Evaluation of physiological stress in free-ranging bears: current knowledge and future directions. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2023; 98:168-190. [PMID: 36176191 PMCID: PMC10086944 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Stress responses, which are mediated by the neurogenic system (NS) and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis help vertebrates maintain physiological homeostasis. Fight-or-flight responses are activated by the NS, which releases norepinephrine/noradrenaline and epinephrine/adrenaline in response to immediate stressors, whilst the HPA axis releases glucocorticoid hormones (e.g. cortisol and corticosterone) to help mitigate allostatic load. There have been many studies on stress responses of captive animals, but they are not truly reflective of typical ranges or the types of stressors encountered by free-ranging wildlife, such as responses and adaptation to environmental change, which are particularly important from a conservation perspective. As stress can influence the composition of age and sex classes of free-ranging populations both directly and indirectly, ecological research must be prioritised towards more vulnerable taxa. Generally, large predators tend to be particularly at risk of anthropogenically driven population declines because they exhibit reduced behavioural plasticity required to adapt to changing landscapes and exist in reduced geographic ranges, have small population sizes, low fecundity rates, large spatial requirements and occupy high trophic positions. As a keystone species with a long history of coexistence with humans in highly anthropogenic landscapes, there has been growing concern about how humans influence bear behaviour and physiology, via numerous short- and long-term stressors. In this review, we synthesise research on the stress response in free-ranging bear populations and evaluate the effectiveness and limitations of current methodology in measuring stress in bears to identify the most effective metrics for future research. Particularly, we integrate research that utilised haematological variables, cardiac monitors and Global Positioning System (GPS) collars, serum/plasma and faecal glucocorticoid concentrations, hair cortisol levels, and morphological metrics (primarily skulls) to investigate the stress response in ursids in both short- and long-term contexts. We found that in free-ranging bears, food availability and consumption have the greatest influence on individual stress, with mixed responses to anthropogenic influences. Effects of sex and age on stress are also mixed, likely attributable to inconsistent methods. We recommend that methodology across all stress indicators used in free-ranging bears should be standardised to improve interpretation of results and that a wider range of species should be incorporated in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natarsha L Babic
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, 25 Rainforest Walk, Clayton, 3800, Victoria, Australia
| | - Christopher P Johnstone
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, 25 Rainforest Walk, Clayton, 3800, Victoria, Australia
| | - Slaven Reljić
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia
| | - Agnieszka Sergiel
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Adama Mickiewicza 33, Krakow, 31120, Poland
| | - Đuro Huber
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia.,Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Adama Mickiewicza 33, Krakow, 31120, Poland
| | - Richard D Reina
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, 25 Rainforest Walk, Clayton, 3800, Victoria, Australia
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5
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Whisker spots on polar bears reveal increasing fluctuating asymmetry. Mamm Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s42991-022-00294-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
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6
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Vidal A, Iturriaga M, Mancina CA, Cézilly F. Differences in sex ratio, tail autotomy, body size and body condition between suburban and forest populations of the cuban endemic lizard Anolis homolechis. Urban Ecosyst 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-022-01259-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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7
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Regacho T, delBarco-Trillo J. Morphological stability of rural populations supports their use as controls in urban ecology studies. Urban Ecosyst 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-022-01253-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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8
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Marques V, Riaño G, Carretero MA, Silva‐Rocha I, Rato C. Sex determination and optimal development in the Moorish gecko,
Tarentola mauritanica. ACTA ZOOL-STOCKHOLM 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/azo.12427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Valéria Marques
- CIBIO – Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources Universidade do Porto Vila do Conde Portugal
| | - Gabriel Riaño
- CIBIO – Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources Universidade do Porto Vila do Conde Portugal
| | - Miguel A. Carretero
- CIBIO – Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources Universidade do Porto Vila do Conde Portugal
- Department of Biology Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto Porto Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning CIBIO Vairão Portugal
| | - Iolanda Silva‐Rocha
- CIBIO – Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources Universidade do Porto Vila do Conde Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning CIBIO Vairão Portugal
| | - Catarina Rato
- CIBIO – Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources Universidade do Porto Vila do Conde Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning CIBIO Vairão Portugal
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9
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The interplay of spatial scale and landscape transformation modulates the abundance and intraspecific variation in the ecomorphological traits of a phyllostomid bat. JOURNAL OF TROPICAL ECOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1017/s026646742100047x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
AbstractLand use intensification imposes selective pressures that systematically change the frequency of wild population phenotypes. Growing evidence is biased towards the comparison of populations from discrete categories of land uses, ignoring the role of landscape emerging properties on the phenotype selection of wild fauna. Across the largest urban–rural gradient of the Colombian Orinoquia, we measured ecomorphological traits of 216 individuals of the flat-faced fruit-eating bat Artibeus planirostris. We did this to evaluate the scale of effect at which landscape transformation better predicts changes in phenotype and abundance of an urban-tolerant species. Forest percentage at 1.25 km was the main predictor affecting negatively bat abundance and positively its wing aspect ratio and body mass. Landscape variables affected forearm length at all spatial scales, this effect appeared to be sex-dependent, and the most important predictor, forest percentage at 0.5 km, had a negative effect on this trait. Our results indicate that landscape elements and spatial scale interact to shape ecomorphological traits and the abundance of A. planirostris. Interestingly, the scale of effect coincided at 1.25 km among all biological responses, suggesting that species’ abundance can be linked to the variation on phenotype under different environmental filters across landscape scenarios.
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10
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Simbula G, Vignoli L, Carretero MA, Kaliontzopoulou A. Fluctuating asymmetry as biomarker of pesticides exposure in the Italian wall lizards (Podarcis siculus). ZOOLOGY 2021; 147:125928. [PMID: 34022741 DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2021.125928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The extensive use of pesticides in agricultural environments produces drastic effects on wildlife, hence the need for less invasive indicators of environmental stress to monitoring the impact of agriculture treatments on biological systems. Fluctuating asymmetry (FA), as measure of developmental instability, has recently been proposed as reliable biomarker of populations stress due to environmental disturbance. We investigate femoral pores (FP) and dorsal head shape (HS) traits in populations of the Italian wall lizard inhabiting agricultural environments to examine whether different pesticide exposures (conventional, organic and control) can cause distinctive degree of FA. High-resolution photographs of FP and HS were taken in the field with a digital camera. The number of FP were counted twice on both sides and HS was analysed using geometric morphometrics with 25 landmarks and 12 semilandmarks. Individuals under conventional management showed higher levels of FA compared to control ones, and females exhibited higher FA levels than males for the FP. However, no significant difference was found for the HS trait. Our study provided evidence that FA may have a real potential as biomarker of population stress in wall lizards, highlighting the importance in the choice of the experimental design and the traits adopted for estimating DI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Simbula
- Dipartimento di Scienze, Università Roma Tre, Viale G. Marconi 446, Rome, 00146, Italy.
| | - Leonardo Vignoli
- Dipartimento di Scienze, Università Roma Tre, Viale G. Marconi 446, Rome, 00146, Italy.
| | - Miguel A Carretero
- CIBIO - Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Vairão, 4485-661, Portugal; Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, R. Campo Alegre, s/n, Porto, 4169 - 007, Portugal.
| | - Antigoni Kaliontzopoulou
- CIBIO - Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Vairão, 4485-661, Portugal.
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11
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Chavarie L, Voelker S, Hansen MJ, Bronte CR, Muir AM, Zimmerman MS, Krueger CC. Temporal instability of lake charr phenotypes: Synchronicity of growth rates and morphology linked to environmental variables? Evol Appl 2021; 14:1159-1177. [PMID: 33897827 PMCID: PMC8061271 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathways through which phenotypic variation among individuals arise can be complex. One assumption often made in relation to intraspecific diversity is that the stability or predictability of the environment will interact with expression of the underlying phenotypic variation. To address biological complexity below the species level, we investigated variability across years in morphology and annual growth increments between and within two sympatric lake charr Salvelinus namaycush ecotypes in Rush Lake, USA. A rapid phenotypic shift in body and head shape was found within a decade. The magnitude and direction of the observed phenotypic change were consistent in both ecotypes, which suggests similar pathways caused the variation over time. Over the same time period, annual growth increments declined for both lake charr ecotypes and corresponded with a consistent phenotypic shift of each ecotype. Despite ecotype-specific annual growth changes in response to winter conditions, the observed annual growth shift for both ecotypes was linked, to some degree, with variation in the environment. Particularly, a declining trend in regional cloud cover was associated with an increase of early-stage (ages 1-3) annual growth for lake charr of Rush Lake. Underlying mechanisms causing changes in growth rates and constrained morphological modulation are not fully understood. An improved knowledge of the biology hidden within the expression of phenotypic variation promises to clarify our understanding of temporal morphological diversity and instability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Chavarie
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource ManagementNorwegian University of Life SciencesÅsNorway
- Beaty Biodiversity Research CenterUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBCCanada
- Scottish Centre for Ecology and the Natural EnvironmentIBAHCM, Rowardennan, Loch LomondGlasgowUK
| | - Steve Voelker
- SUNY College of Environmental Science and ForestrySyracuseNYUSA
| | | | - Charles R. Bronte
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceGreen Bay Fish and Wildlife Conservation OfficeNew FrankenWIUSA
| | | | | | - Charles C. Krueger
- Department of Fisheries and WildlifeCenter for Systems Integration and SustainabilityMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMIUSA
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12
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Niemeier S, Müller J, Struck U, Rödel MO. Superfrogs in the city: 150 year impact of urbanization and agriculture on the European Common Frog. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2020; 26:6729-6741. [PMID: 32975007 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Despite growing pressure on biodiversity deriving from increasing anthropogenic disturbances, some species successfully persist in altered ecosystems. However, these species' characteristics and thresholds, as well as the environmental frame behind that process are usually unknown. We collected data on body size, fluctuating asymmetry (FA), as well as nitrogen stable isotopes (δ15 N) from museum specimens of the European Common Frog, Rana temporaria, all originating from the Berlin-Brandenburg area, Germany, in order to test: (a) if specimens have changed over the last 150 years (1868-2018); and (b) if changes could be attributed to increasing urbanization and agricultural intensity. We detected that after the Second World War, frogs were larger than in pre-war Berlin. In rural Brandenburg, we observed no such size change. FA analysis revealed a similar tendency with lower levels in Berlin after the war and higher levels in Brandenburg. Enrichment of δ15 N decreased over time in both regions but was generally higher and less variable in sites with agricultural land use. Frogs thus seem to encounter favorable habitat conditions after pollution in postwar Berlin improved, but no such tendencies were observable in the predominantly agricultural landscape of Brandenburg. Urbanization, characterized by the proportion of built-up area, was not the main associated factor for the observed trait changes. However, we detected a relationship with the amount of urban greenspace. Our study exemplifies that increasing urbanization must not necessarily worsen conditions for species living in urban habitats. The Berlin example demonstrates that public parks and other urban greenspaces have the potential to serve as suitable refuges for some species. These findings underline the urgency of establishing, maintaining, and connecting such habitats, and generally consider their importance for future urban planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Niemeier
- Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research - BBIB, Berlin, Germany
| | - Johannes Müller
- Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research - BBIB, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulrich Struck
- Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mark-Oliver Rödel
- Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research - BBIB, Berlin, Germany
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13
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Variation in shell morphology of the European pond turtle, Emys orbicularis, in fragmented central European populations. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blaa184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) is a widely distributed freshwater species inhabiting much of Europe, but it is often in population decrease or is locally extinct. In this study, we sampled five central European populations, of which four were autochthonous and one was introduced outside the native range. Moreover, two of the native populations were relatively isolated and at the periphery of the species, range. Using the frequency of shell anomalies, a geometric morphometric framework and an analysis of fluctuating asymmetry, we aimed to determine the degree of morphological differentiation among different populations. Significantly, a smaller number of individuals with a malformed shell or scutes occurred in the native core range population, which potentially has a high level of gene flow (Hungary). Although neither canonical variate analysis nor the morphological disparity analysis showed distinct differences between populations, we found significantly higher shell asymmetry in the two marginal populations (Austria and Slovakia) compared with the core range populations. Our results might thus support the central–marginal hypothesis and indicate potential genetically based conservation problems owing to demographic bottlenecks and/or isolation in marginal populations.
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14
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Lailvaux SP. It’s Not Easy Being Green: Behavior, Morphology, and Population Structure in Urban and Natural Populations of Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis) Lizards. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.570810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
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15
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Szoke A, Pignon B, Boster S, Jamain S, Schürhoff F. Schizophrenia: Developmental Variability Interacts with Risk Factors to Cause the Disorder: Nonspecific Variability-Enhancing Factors Combine with Specific Risk Factors to Cause Schizophrenia. Bioessays 2020; 42:e2000038. [PMID: 32864753 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202000038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Revised: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
A new etiological model is proposed for schizophrenia that combines variability-enhancing nonspecific factors acting during development with more specific risk factors. This model is better suited than the current etiological models of schizophrenia, based on the risk factors paradigm, for predicting and/or explaining several important findings about schizophrenia: high co-morbidity rates, low specificity of many risk factors, and persistence in the population of the associated genetic polymorphisms. Compared with similar models, e.g., de-canalization, common psychopathology factor, sexual-selection, or differential sensitivity to the environment, this proposal is more general and integrative. Recently developed research methods have proven the existence of genetic and environmental factors that enhance developmental variability. Applying such methods to newly collected or already available data can allow for testing the hypotheses upon which this model is built. If validated, this model may change the understanding of the etiology of schizophrenia, the research models, and preventionbrk paradigms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrei Szoke
- INSERM, U955, Translational NeuroPsychiatry Lab, Créteil, 94000, France.,AP-HP, DHU IMPACT, Pôle de Psychiatrie, Hôpitaux Universitaires Henri-Mondor, Créteil, 94000, France.,Fondation FondaMental, Créteil, 94000, France.,UPEC, Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris-Est Créteil, Créteil, 94000, France
| | - Baptiste Pignon
- INSERM, U955, Translational NeuroPsychiatry Lab, Créteil, 94000, France.,AP-HP, DHU IMPACT, Pôle de Psychiatrie, Hôpitaux Universitaires Henri-Mondor, Créteil, 94000, France.,Fondation FondaMental, Créteil, 94000, France.,UPEC, Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris-Est Créteil, Créteil, 94000, France
| | | | - Stéphane Jamain
- INSERM, U955, Translational NeuroPsychiatry Lab, Créteil, 94000, France.,UPEC, Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris-Est Créteil, Créteil, 94000, France
| | - Franck Schürhoff
- INSERM, U955, Translational NeuroPsychiatry Lab, Créteil, 94000, France.,AP-HP, DHU IMPACT, Pôle de Psychiatrie, Hôpitaux Universitaires Henri-Mondor, Créteil, 94000, France.,Fondation FondaMental, Créteil, 94000, France.,UPEC, Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris-Est Créteil, Créteil, 94000, France
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16
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The influence of urbanization on morphological traits in the Balsas Basin Whiptail lizard (Aspidoscelis costatus costatus). Urban Ecosyst 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-020-01038-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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17
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Pigeault R, Isaïa J, Yerbanga RS, Dabiré KR, Ouédraogo JB, Cohuet A, Lefèvre T, Christe P. Different distribution of malaria parasite in left and right extremities of vertebrate hosts translates into differences in parasite transmission. Sci Rep 2020; 10:10183. [PMID: 32576924 PMCID: PMC7311528 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-67180-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria, a vector-borne disease caused by Plasmodium spp., remains a major global cause of mortality. Optimization of disease control strategies requires a thorough understanding of the processes underlying parasite transmission. While the number of transmissible stages (gametocytes) of Plasmodium in blood is frequently used as an indicator of host-to-mosquito transmission potential, this relationship is not always clear. Significant effort has been made in developing molecular tools that improve gametocyte density estimation and therefore prediction of mosquito infection rates. However a significant level of uncertainty around estimates remains. The weakness in the relationship between gametocyte burden, measured from a blood sample, and the mosquito infection rate could be explained by a non-homogeneous distribution of gametocytes in the bloodstream. The estimated gametocyte density would then only be a single snapshot that does not reflect the host infectivity. This aspect of Plasmodium infection, however, remains largely neglected. In both humans and birds, we found here that the gametocyte densities differed depending on which side of the body the sample was taken, suggesting that gametocytes are not homogeneously distributed within the vertebrate host. We observed a fluctuating asymmetry, in other words, the extremity of the body with the highest density of parasites is not always the same from one individual to another. An estimation of gametocyte density from only one blood sample, as is commonly measured, could, therefore, over- or underestimated the infectivity of gametocyte carriers. This might have important consequences on the epidemiology of the disease since we show that this variation influences host-to-mosquito transmission. Vectors fed on the least infected body part had a lower parasite burden than those fed on the most infected part. The heterogeneous distribution of gametocytes in bloodstream should be considered to improve diagnosis and test new malaria control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romain Pigeault
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Julie Isaïa
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Kounbobr R Dabiré
- Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
| | | | - Anna Cohuet
- Unité MIVEGEC, IRD 224-CNRS 5290-Université Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Thierry Lefèvre
- Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
- Unité MIVEGEC, IRD 224-CNRS 5290-Université Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Philippe Christe
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
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Vukov T, Mirč M, Tomašević Kolarov N, Stamenković S. Urbanization and the common wall lizard (
Podarcis muralis
) in the Pannonian basin, Serbia: nowhere safe? J Zool (1987) 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- T. Vukov
- Department of Evolutionary Biology Institute for Biological Research ‘Siniša Stanković’ University of Belgrade Belgrade Serbia
| | - M. Mirč
- Department of Evolutionary Biology Institute for Biological Research ‘Siniša Stanković’ University of Belgrade Belgrade Serbia
| | - N. Tomašević Kolarov
- Department of Evolutionary Biology Institute for Biological Research ‘Siniša Stanković’ University of Belgrade Belgrade Serbia
| | - S. Stamenković
- Faculty of Biology University of Belgrade Belgrade Serbia
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19
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French SS, Webb AC, Hudson SB, Virgin EE. Town and Country Reptiles: A Review of Reptilian Responses to Urbanization. Integr Comp Biol 2019; 58:948-966. [PMID: 29873730 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icy052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The majority of the world population is now inhabiting urban areas, and with staggering population growth, urbanization is also increasing. While the work studying the effects of changing landscapes and specific urban pressures on wildlife is beginning to amass, the majority of this work focuses on avian or mammalian species. However, the effects of urbanization likely vary substantially across taxonomic groups due to differences in habitat requirements and life history. The current article aims first to broaden the review of urban effects across reptilian species; second, to summarize the responses of reptilian fauna to specific urban features; and third, to assess the directionality of individual and population level responses to urbanization in reptile species. Based on our findings, urban research in reptilian taxa is lacking in the following areas: (1) investigating interactive or additive urban factors, (2) measuring multiple morphological, behavioral, and physiological endpoints within an animal, (3) linking individual to population-level responses, and (4) testing genetic/genomic differences across an urban environment as evidence for selective pressures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susannah S French
- Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA and Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
| | - Alison C Webb
- Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA and Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
| | - Spencer B Hudson
- Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA and Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
| | - Emily E Virgin
- Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA and Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
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20
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Abramjan A, Frýdlová P, Jančúchová-Lásková J, Suchomelová P, Landová E, Yavruyan E, Frynta D. Comparing developmental stability in unisexual and bisexual rock lizards of the genus Darevskia. Evol Dev 2019; 21:175-187. [PMID: 30887666 DOI: 10.1111/ede.12286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Revised: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Parthenogenetic species are usually considered to be short-lived due to the accumulation of adverse mutations, lack of genetic variability, and inability to adapt to changing environment. If so, one may expect that the phenotype of clonal organisms may reflect such genetic and/or environmental stress. To test this hypothesis, we compared the developmental stability of bisexual and parthenogenetic lizards of the genus Darevskia. We assessed asymmetries in three meristic traits: ventral, preanal, and supratemporal scales. Our results suggest that the amount of ventral and preanal asymmetries is significantly higher in clones compared with their maternal, but not paternal, progenitor species. However, it is questionable, whether this is a consequence of clonality, as it may be considered a mild form of outbreeding depression as well. Moreover, most ventral asymmetries were found in the bisexual species Darevskia valentini. We suggest that greater differences in asymmetry levels among bisexuals may be, for instance, a consequence of the population size: the smaller the population, the higher the inbreeding and the developmental instability. On the basis of the traits examined in this study, the parthenogens do not seem to be of significantly poorer quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andran Abramjan
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Frýdlová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | - Petra Suchomelová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Eva Landová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Eduard Yavruyan
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Laboratory of Biology, Zoology, and Ecology, Institute of Biomedicine and Pharmacy, Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) University, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Daniel Frynta
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
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21
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Winchell KM, Briggs D, Revell LJ. The perils of city life: patterns of injury and fluctuating asymmetry in urban lizards. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/bly205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kristin M Winchell
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Derek Briggs
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Liam J Revell
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, USA
- Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Cátolica de la Santísima Concepción, Concepción, Chile
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22
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Merrill L, Grindstaff JL. Early Life Stress Strengthens Trait Covariance: A Plastic Response That Results in Reduced Flexibility. Am Nat 2018; 192:593-604. [PMID: 30332583 DOI: 10.1086/699839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Stress exposure during development can impact both the expression of individual traits and associations between traits, but whether stress results in stronger or weaker associations between traits is unclear. In this study, we examined within- and among-trait associations for morphological and physiological traits in zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) exposed to corticosterone (CORT) during the nestling and fledging stages as well as in control birds. Birds exposed to CORT exhibited stronger within-trait correlations over time and stronger associations among traits. We found preliminary evidence that birds that died before the median age of death had stronger within- and among-trait correlations independent of treatment, and among CORT-treated birds, smaller birds were more likely to survive beyond the median age than larger birds. These findings suggest that stress hormone exposure in early life can result in reduced developmental flexibility, with potential fitness ramifications, and that these costs may be greater for larger offspring. Furthermore, our results provide experimental evidence for pleiotropic effects of hormones during development through altered patterns of phenotypic correlation.
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23
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Kaliontzopoulou A, Pinho C, Martínez-Freiría F. Where does diversity come from? Linking geographical patterns of morphological, genetic, and environmental variation in wall lizards. BMC Evol Biol 2018; 18:124. [PMID: 30134828 PMCID: PMC6113677 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-018-1237-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2018] [Accepted: 08/09/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding how phenotypic variation scales from individuals, through populations, up to species, and how it relates to genetic and environmental factors, is essential for deciphering the evolutionary mechanisms that drive biodiversity. We used two species of Podarcis wall lizards to test whether phenotypic diversity within and divergence across populations follow concordant patterns, and to examine how phenotypic variation responds to genetic and environmental variability across different hierarchical levels of biological organization, in an explicit geographic framework. RESULTS We found a general concordance of phenotypic variation across hierarchical levels (i.e. individuals and populations). However, we also found that within-population diversity does not exhibit a coherent geographic structure for most traits, while among-population divergence does, suggesting that different mechanisms may underlie the generation of diversity at these two levels. Furthermore, the association of phenotypic variation with genetic and environmental factors varied extensively between hierarchical levels and across traits, hampering the identification of simple rules to explain what yields diversity. CONCLUSIONS Our results in some cases comply with general ecological and evolutionary predictions, but in others they are difficult to explain in the geographic framework used, suggesting that habitat characteristics and other regulatory mechanisms may have a more substantial contribution in shaping phenotypic diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antigoni Kaliontzopoulou
- CIBIO/InBIO Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Campus de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, N° 7.4485-661 Vairão, Vila do Conde, Portugal.
| | - Catarina Pinho
- CIBIO/InBIO Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Campus de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, N° 7.4485-661 Vairão, Vila do Conde, Portugal
| | - Fernando Martínez-Freiría
- CIBIO/InBIO Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Campus de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, N° 7.4485-661 Vairão, Vila do Conde, Portugal
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24
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Arguedas R, Steinberg D, Lewbart GA, Deresienski D, Lohmann KJ, Muñoz-Pérez JP, Valle CA. Haematology and biochemistry of the San Cristóbal Lava Lizard ( Microlophus bivittatus). CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2018; 6:coy046. [PMID: 30135738 PMCID: PMC6097591 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coy046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2018] [Revised: 07/11/2018] [Accepted: 07/26/2018] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The San Cristóbal lava lizard, Microlophus bivittatus, is one of nine species of lava lizards endemic to the Galápagos Islands of Ecuador. No information presently exists about baseline health parameters for any of these species. We analysed blood samples drawn from 47 lizards (25 males and 22 females) captured at two locations on San Cristóbal Island. A portable blood analyser (iSTAT) was used to obtain near-immediate field results for total CO2, lactate, sodium, potassium, ionized calcium, glucose and haemoglobin. Standard laboratory haematology techniques were employed for differential white blood cell counts and haematocrit determination. Body temperature, heart rate and body measurements were also recorded. We found significant differences in haematocrit values between males and females. The values reported in this study provide baseline data that may be useful in detecting changes in health status among lava lizards affected by natural disturbances or anthropogenic threats. Our findings might also be helpful in future efforts to demonstrate associations between specific biochemical or haematological parameters and disease. Because there are several related species on different islands in the Galápagos archipelago, comparisons between populations and species will be of interest. Lay Summary:Haematology and biochemistry values of the San Cristóbal lava lizard Microlophus bivittatus, along with several other health parameters (morphometrics and temperature), are reported for the first time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Randall Arguedas
- Zoológico Nacional Simón Bolívar, Barrio Amón, Calle 13, Apdo. 11594-1000, San José, Costa Rica
| | - David Steinberg
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Gregory A Lewbart
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University, 1060 William Moore Drive Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
- Galápagos Science Center GSC (Universidad San Francisco de Quito-University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), Av. Alsacio Northia, Isla San Cristobal, Galápagos, Ecuador
- Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Galapagos Science Center GSC, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales COCIBA, Campus Cumbayá Av. Diego de Robles S/N e Interoceánica, Galápagos Casilla Postal 17-1200-841, Quito 170901, Ecuador
| | - Diane Deresienski
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University, 1060 William Moore Drive Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
| | - Kenneth J Lohmann
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Juan Pablo Muñoz-Pérez
- Galápagos Science Center GSC (Universidad San Francisco de Quito-University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), Av. Alsacio Northia, Isla San Cristobal, Galápagos, Ecuador
| | - Carlos A Valle
- Galápagos Science Center GSC (Universidad San Francisco de Quito-University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), Av. Alsacio Northia, Isla San Cristobal, Galápagos, Ecuador
- Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Galapagos Science Center GSC, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales COCIBA, Campus Cumbayá Av. Diego de Robles S/N e Interoceánica, Galápagos Casilla Postal 17-1200-841, Quito 170901, Ecuador
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25
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Ghemari C, Ayari A, Hamdi N, Waterlot C, Douay F, Nasri-Ammar K. Measure of environmental stress on Porcellio laevis Latreille, 1804 sampled near active Tunisian industrial areas. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2018; 27:729-741. [PMID: 29931544 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-018-1955-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/31/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to observe the type of asymmetry exhibited by Porcellio laevis sampled from 15 sites belonging to Tunisian industrialized areas. Physicochemical parameters such as pH, organic matter and CaCO3 contents were measured in soils. Moreover, Cd, Pb, Zn, and Cu concentrations were determined in both soils and woodlice. Additionally, 10 metrical traits were measured to evaluate the type of asymmetry on individuals: the basis, the second and the third articles of the antenna, the first article of the flagellum of the antenna and the merus, the carpus, and the propodus of the sixth and the seventh pereopods. Among the 531 measured individuals, 432 exhibited fluctuating asymmetry (FA) while the remaining individuals exhibited antisymmetry or directional asymmetry. The data obtained were analyzed using a multivariate statistical analysis. Contrary to our hypothesis, the results showed that individuals from contaminated sites have a low FA level, whereas those from uncontaminated sites have a high FA level, particularly females but with some exceptions. Variations in FA level in the traits and populations studied and its usefulness as a stress indicator were discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chedliya Ghemari
- University of Tunis El Manar, Faculty of Science of Tunis, RU11SE11 Research Unit of Bio-ecology and Evolutionary Systematic, 2092 Manar II, Tunis, Tunisia.
| | - Anas Ayari
- University of Tunis El Manar, Faculty of Science of Tunis, RU11SE11 Research Unit of Bio-ecology and Evolutionary Systematic, 2092 Manar II, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Nabil Hamdi
- University of Tunis El Manar, Faculty of Science of Tunis, RU11SE11 Research Unit of Bio-ecology and Evolutionary Systematic, 2092 Manar II, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Christophe Waterlot
- Yncréa Hauts-de-France, Laboratoire Génie Civil et géo-Environnement (LGCgE), 48 boulevard Vauban 59046, Lille Cedex, France
| | - Francis Douay
- Yncréa Hauts-de-France, Laboratoire Génie Civil et géo-Environnement (LGCgE), 48 boulevard Vauban 59046, Lille Cedex, France
| | - Karima Nasri-Ammar
- University of Tunis El Manar, Faculty of Science of Tunis, RU11SE11 Research Unit of Bio-ecology and Evolutionary Systematic, 2092 Manar II, Tunis, Tunisia
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26
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Cortés-Gómez AA, Romero D, Girondot M. Carapace asymmetry: A possible biomarker for metal accumulation in adult olive Ridleys marine turtles? MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2018; 129:92-101. [PMID: 29680573 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2017] [Revised: 02/06/2018] [Accepted: 02/08/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The Olive Ridley marine turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) is characterized by individual morphological variability in the number and shape of scutes. The influence of pollutants on developmental instability and one of its consequences, the asymmetry of individuals, has been demonstrated in several species, especially invertebrates and some birds. However, the use of this asymmetry as a biomarker of contamination in adult individuals has never been explored. We developed an index to quantify developmental instability (DIx) based on the number and relative size of costal carapace scutes. The link between DIx and inorganic elements concentrations was explored in various tissues of stranded turtles from the Southern Mexican Pacific. The relationships between adult contamination and DIx could directly or indirectly reflect (i) the disruption of metal elimination in the adult stage dependent on embryonic perturbation and thus determining DIx, (ii) the difference in metal absorption dependent on DIx status, or (iii) DIx linked to other unknown factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana A Cortés-Gómez
- Laboratoire Écologie, Systématique et Évolution, Université Paris-Sud, AgroParisTech, CNRS, Université Paris Saclay, 91405 Orsay, France; Área de toxicología, Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
| | - Diego Romero
- Área de toxicología, Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
| | - Marc Girondot
- Laboratoire Écologie, Systématique et Évolution, Université Paris-Sud, AgroParisTech, CNRS, Université Paris Saclay, 91405 Orsay, France.
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27
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Salvador RMV, Pim F, Júnior HAN, de Abreu AT, Pimentel EF, de Cerqueira LO, Junior PDF, Endringer DC. Tropidurus torquatus (Squamata: Tropiduridae) as a bioindicator of heavy metal (aluminum and zinc) pollution in Vila Velha, Brazil. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 25:1210-1219. [PMID: 29082471 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-017-0427-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2017] [Accepted: 10/05/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Urbanization is responsible for numerous environmental changes including pollution. Information on the susceptibility of reptiles to environmental contaminants is relatively scarce. Tropidurus torquatus represents a potential bioindicator of heavy metal pollution. Levels of heavy metals in tissues from T. torquatus depend on bioavailability and vary among different populations. The aim of this study was to determine the heavy metal concentration in liver and fat tissue of T. torquatus from three distinct populations in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. The study areas included coastal rocky outcrops, dunes, and mountain rocky outcrops; each area had a different climate, vegetation, and level of anthropogenic influence. Fifty-one individuals were captured. Biometrics and sexes were determined, and stomach contents were identified. The tissue samples were digested with nitric acid and analyzed via inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) for aluminum (Al), arsenic (As), barium (Ba), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), lithium (Li), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), strontium (Sr), titanium (Ti), vanadium (V), and zinc (Zn) contents. The concentration of zinc in Tropidurus torquatus was higher in liver than in fat tissue (432 ± 1380 mg kg-1), and that of aluminum was higher in fat tissue (765 ± 1455 mg.kg-1). The animals' diet may be related to heavy metal contamination. The study suggests that T. torquatus could be used for soil biomonitoring with liver as a bioindicator for aluminum contamination and fat tissue as a bioindicator for zinc contamination. Graphical abstract ᅟ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raiza Menezes Venturim Salvador
- Ecosystem Ecologie Graduate Program, University Vila Velha, Av. Comissário José Dantas de Melo, n°21, 29102-920 - Boa Vista, Vila Velha, ES, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Pim
- Ecosystem Ecologie Graduate Program, University Vila Velha, Av. Comissário José Dantas de Melo, n°21, 29102-920 - Boa Vista, Vila Velha, ES, Brazil
| | - Hermínio Arias Nalini Júnior
- Ecosystem Ecologie Graduate Program, University Vila Velha, Av. Comissário José Dantas de Melo, n°21, 29102-920 - Boa Vista, Vila Velha, ES, Brazil
| | - Adriana Trópia de Abreu
- Department of Geology, Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Morro do Cruzeiro, s/n, Ouro Preto, MG, 35400-000, Brazil
| | - Elisângela Flavia Pimentel
- Department of Gemology, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Avenida Fernando Ferrari, 514, Goiabeiras, Vitória, ES, 29.075-910, Brazil
| | - Lorena Oliveira de Cerqueira
- Department of Gemology, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Avenida Fernando Ferrari, 514, Goiabeiras, Vitória, ES, 29.075-910, Brazil
| | - Paulo Dias Ferreira Junior
- Pharmaceutical Science Graduate Program, University Vila Velha, Av. Comissário José Dantas de Melo, n°21, 29102-920 - Boa Vista, Vila Velha, ES, Brazil
| | - Denise Coutinho Endringer
- Department of Gemology, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Avenida Fernando Ferrari, 514, Goiabeiras, Vitória, ES, 29.075-910, Brazil.
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28
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The causes and ecological correlates of head scale asymmetry and fragmentation in a tropical snake. Sci Rep 2017; 7:11363. [PMID: 28900296 PMCID: PMC5595785 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-11768-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2017] [Accepted: 08/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The challenge of identifying the proximate causes and ecological consequences of phenotypic variation can be facilitated by studying traits that are usually but not always bilaterally symmetrical; deviations from symmetry likely reflect disrupted embryogenesis. Based on a 19-year mark-recapture study of >1300 slatey-grey snakes (Stegonotus cucullatus) in tropical Australia, and incubation of >700 eggs, we document developmental and ecological correlates of two morphological traits: asymmetry and fragmentation of head scales. Asymmetry was directional (more scales on the left side) and was higher in individuals with lower heterozygosity, but was not heritable. In contrast, fragmentation was heritable and was higher in females than males. Both scale asymmetry and fragmentation were increased by rapid embryogenesis but were not affected by hydric conditions during incubation. Snakes with asymmetry and fragmentation exhibited slightly lower survival and increased (sex-specific) movements, and females with more scale fragmentation produced smaller eggs. Counterintuitively, snakes with more asymmetry had higher growth rates (possibly reflecting trade-offs with other traits), and snakes with more fragmentation had fewer parasites (possibly due to lower feeding rates). Our data paint an unusually detailed picture of the complex genetic and environmental factors that, by disrupting early embryonic development, generate variations in morphology that have detectable correlations with ecological performance.
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29
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Batabyal A, Thaker M. Signalling with physiological colours: high contrast for courtship but speed for competition. Anim Behav 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2017.05.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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30
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Lourenço A, Álvarez D, Wang IJ, Velo-Antón G. Trapped within the city: integrating demography, time since isolation and population-specific traits to assess the genetic effects of urbanization. Mol Ecol 2017; 26:1498-1514. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.14019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2016] [Revised: 01/04/2017] [Accepted: 01/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- André Lourenço
- Departamento de Biologia da Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto; Rua Campo Alegre 4169-007 Porto Portugal
- CIBIO/InBIO; Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos da Universidade do Porto; Instituto de Ciências Agrárias de Vairão; Rua Padre Armando Quintas 7 4485-661 Vairão Portugal
| | - David Álvarez
- Ecology Unit; Department of Organisms and Systems Biology; University of Oviedo; C/ Catedrático Rodrigo Uría 33071 Oviedo Spain
| | - Ian J. Wang
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management; University of California; 130 Mulford Hall #3114 Berkeley CA 94705 USA
| | - Guillermo Velo-Antón
- CIBIO/InBIO; Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos da Universidade do Porto; Instituto de Ciências Agrárias de Vairão; Rua Padre Armando Quintas 7 4485-661 Vairão Portugal
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Pellitteri-Rosa D, Bellati A, Cocca W, Gazzola A, Martín J, Fasola M. Urbanization affects refuge use and habituation to predators in a polymorphic lizard. Anim Behav 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2016.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Mangiacotti M, Fumagalli M, Scali S, Zuffi MAL, Cagnone M, Salvini R, Sacchi R. Inter- and intra-population variability of the protein content of femoral gland secretions from a lacertid lizard. Curr Zool 2016; 63:657-665. [PMID: 29492027 PMCID: PMC5804213 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zow113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2016] [Accepted: 11/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Femoral glands of male lizards produce waxy secretions that are involved in inter- and intraspecific chemical communication. The main components of these secretions are proteins and lipids, the latter having been extensively studied and already associated to male quality. On the opposite, the composition and role of proteins are nearly unknown, the only available information coming from few studies on iguanids. These studies got the conclusion that proteins might have a communicative function, notably they could signal individual identity. A generalization of these findings requires the extension of protein analysis to other lizard families, and the primary detection of some patterns of individual variability. Using the common wall lizard Podarcis muralis as a model species, the protein fraction of the femoral pore secretions was investigated to provide the first characterization of this component in a lacertid lizard and to explore its source of variability, as a first step to support the hypothesized communicative role. Samples of proteins from femoral secretions were collected from 6 Italian populations and subjected to 1-dimensional electrophoresis. The binary vector of the band presence/absence was used to define the individual profiles. Protein fraction is found to have a structured pattern, with both an individual and a population component. Although the former supports the potential communicative role of proteins, the latter offers a double interpretation, phylogenetic or environmental, even though the phylogenetic effect seems more likely given the climatic resemblance of the considered sites. Further studies are necessary to shed light on both these issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Mangiacotti
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, Via Taramelli 24, Pavia I-27100, Italy.,Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano, Corso Venezia 55, Milano I-20121, Italy
| | - Marco Fumagalli
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "L. Spallanzani", Biochemistry Unit, University of Pavia, Via Taramelli 3, Pavia I-27100, Italy
| | - Stefano Scali
- Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano, Corso Venezia 55, Milano I-20121, Italy
| | - Marco A L Zuffi
- Museo di Storia Naturale, Università di Pisa, Via Roma 79, Calci, Pisa I-56011, Italy
| | - Maddalena Cagnone
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Biochemistry Unit, University of Pavia, Via Taramelli 3, Pavia I-27100, Italy
| | - Roberta Salvini
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Biochemistry Unit, University of Pavia, Via Taramelli 3, Pavia I-27100, Italy
| | - Roberto Sacchi
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, Via Taramelli 24, Pavia I-27100, Italy
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34
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Tocts AMS, Johnson DW, Carter AJR. Strong nonlinear selection against fluctuating asymmetry in wild populations of a marine fish. Evolution 2016; 70:2899-2908. [PMID: 27757960 DOI: 10.1111/evo.13092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2016] [Revised: 08/27/2016] [Accepted: 09/26/2016] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Theoretical links between fluctuating asymmetry (FA) and fitness have led many to use FA as a proxy for average fitness. However, studies examining whether asymmetry actually correlates with individual fitness in wild populations are relatively rare and often use simple measures of association (e.g., correlation coefficients). Consequently, the pattern of selection on asymmetry in the wild is seldom clear. We examined selection on FA of pectoral fin morphology in two wild populations of a marine fish (the kelp perch; Brachyistius frenatus). As expected, variance in signed FA in each initial sample was significantly greater than that found in the surviving population, indicating selection against FA. Our estimate of the fitness surface confirmed perfect symmetry as the phenotypic optimum and indicated strong, nonlinear selection against asymmetry. No difference in the form of selection was detected between populations. However, the level of FA in the initial samples varied among populations, leading to an overall difference in the level of selective mortality. Our results suggest that selection on asymmetry in wild populations may be strongly nonlinear, and indicate that the demographic costs of asymmetry may play a substantial role in the dynamics of populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley M S Tocts
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Long Beach, CA, 90840, USA
| | - Darren W Johnson
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Long Beach, CA, 90840, USA
| | - Ashley J R Carter
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Long Beach, CA, 90840, USA
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35
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Postnatal Dynamics of Developmental Stability and Canalization of Lizard Head Shape Under Different Environmental Conditions. Evol Biol 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s11692-016-9377-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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36
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Sacchi R, Mangiacotti M, Scali S, Ghitti M, Bindolini B, Zuffi MA. Genetic and phenotypic component in head shape of common wall lizard Podarcis muralis. AMPHIBIA-REPTILIA 2016. [DOI: 10.1163/15685381-00003058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Head shape in lizards correlates with a wide range of environmental pressures, supporting the hypothesis that patterns of phenotypic change represent adaptive responses to selective processes. However, natural selection promotes evolutionary adaptation only if the trait under selection has enough heritable variation. In this study we used geometric morphometrics and quantitative genetics to assess the heritability patterns of the head shape and size of common wall lizards (Podarcis muralis). Genetic and phenotypic components were estimated using animal models, which showed that more than half of the variation in head morphology is inheritable. Furthermore, at least five independent patterns of genetically determined phenotypic change were detected. These outcomes confirm that morphological differentiation in common wall lizards may reliably be regarded as the result of adaptive processes driven by natural selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Sacchi
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e dell’Ambiente, Università di Pavia, Via Taramelli 24, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Marco Mangiacotti
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e dell’Ambiente, Università di Pavia, Via Taramelli 24, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Stefano Scali
- Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano, Corso Venezia 55, 20121 Milano, Italy
| | - Michele Ghitti
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e dell’Ambiente, Università di Pavia, Via Taramelli 24, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Beatrice Bindolini
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e dell’Ambiente, Università di Pavia, Via Taramelli 24, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Marco A.L. Zuffi
- Museo di Storia Naturale, Università di Pisa, via Roma 79, 56011 Calci, Pisa, Italy
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Mayerl C, Baeckens S, Van Damme R. Evolution and role of the follicular epidermal gland system in non-ophidian squamates. AMPHIBIA-REPTILIA 2015. [DOI: 10.1163/15685381-00002995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Many lizard and amphisbaenian lineages possess follicular glands in the dermis of the inner thighs and/or the area anterior to the cloaca. These tubular glands produce a holocrine secretion that finds its way to the external world through pore-bearing scales (femoral and/or preanal pores). Secretions are composed of proteins and many lipophilic compounds that may function as chemosignals in lizard and amphisbaenian communication. In recent years, we have begun to develop an understanding of the adaptive significance of these secretions, and they are currently thought to play an important role in a variety of processes in these animals. While it appears that epidermal gland secretions function in intra- and interspecific recognition and territoriality, research has focused largely on their role in mate assessment. Despite these recent studies, our knowledge on the true role of the chemicals found in epidermal secretions remains poorly studied, and there are many possible avenues for future research on this topic. Here, we review the literature on the follicular epidermal glands of non-ophidian squamates and provide a first taxon-wide overview of their distribution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Mayerl
- Clemson University, 132 Long Hall, Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson SC, 29634, USA
| | - Simon Baeckens
- University of Antwerp, Laboratory of Functional Morphology, Universiteitsplein 1 – C, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Raoul Van Damme
- University of Antwerp, Laboratory of Functional Morphology, Universiteitsplein 1 – C, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
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Lazić MM, Carretero MA, Crnobrnja-Isailović J, Kaliontzopoulou A. Effects of environmental disturbance on phenotypic variation: an integrated assessment of canalization, developmental stability, modularity, and allometry in lizard head shape. Am Nat 2014; 185:44-58. [PMID: 25560552 DOI: 10.1086/679011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
When populations experience suboptimal conditions, the mechanisms involved in the regulation of phenotypic variation can be challenged, resulting in increased phenotypic variance. This kind of disturbance can be diagnosed by using morphometric tools to study morphological patterns at different hierarchical levels and evaluate canalization, developmental stability, integration, modularity, and allometry. We assess the effect of urbanization on phenotypic variation in the common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis) by using geometric morphometrics to assess disturbance to head shape development. The head shapes of urban lizards were more variable and less symmetric, suggesting that urban living is more likely to disturb development. Head shape variation was congruent within and across individuals, which indicated that canalization and developmental stability are two related phenomena in these organisms. Furthermore, urban lizards exhibited smaller mean head sizes, divergent size-shape allometries, and increased deviation from within-group allometric lines. This suggests that mechanisms regulating head shape allometry may also be disrupted. The integrated evaluation of several measures of developmental instability at different hierarchical levels, which provided in this case congruent results, can be a powerful methodological guide for future studies, as it enhances the detection of environmental disturbances on phenotypic variation and aids biological interpretation of the results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marko M Lazić
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, University of Niš, Niš, Serbia
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Klisarić NB, Miljković D, Avramov S, Zivković U, Tarasjev A. Fluctuating asymmetry in Robinia pseudoacacia leaves--possible in situ biomarker? ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2014; 21:12928-12940. [PMID: 24981034 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-014-3211-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2014] [Accepted: 06/16/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we analyzed fluctuating asymmetry (FA) of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) leaf traits as a measure of developmental instability in polluted and unpolluted habitats. We aimed to evaluate the potential of this method as a biomarker and its applicability on widely distributed species under in situ conditions. Leaf samples were taken from seven sites--three categorized as unpolluted (natural protected and rural) and four categorized as polluted covering the broad spectrum of intense pollution (industrial and traffic), from 1,489 individual trees in total. Results revealed significant differences in FA with expected higher values in polluted environments. Applicability of FA of R. pseudoaccacia leaf traits as a biomarker for testing potential pollution level, as well as the amount and distribution of sampling effort needed for its application, are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nataša Barišić Klisarić
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", University of Belgrade, Despota Stefana Blvd. 142, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia,
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